What I Watched: Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between

Another movie I watched while working on stuff was Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between! The book is written by Jennifer E. Smith and I’ve read two books from this author but not this particular one.

Here is the synopsis from Goodreads:

On the night before they leave for college, Clare and Aidan have only one thing left to do: figure out whether they should stay together or break up. Over the course of twelve hours, they retrace the steps of their relationship, trying to find something in their past that might help them decide what their future should be. The night leads them to family and friends, familiar landmarks and unexpected places, hard truths and surprising revelations. But as the clock winds down and morning approaches, so does their inevitable goodbye. The question is, will it be goodbye for now or goodbye forever?

Charming, bittersweet, and full of wisdom and heart, this irresistible novel from Jennifer E. Smith, author of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, explores the difficult choices that arise when life and love lead in different directions.

Here’s the trailer for the movie which you can find on Amazon Prime Video:

I thought the movie was cute and fun and Jordan Fisher is an amazing actor. He’s been in P.S. I Still Love you on Netflix and he was on the live tv version of Rent! I am so impressed with his acting and singing skills – he just leaps off the screen, he has that blinding smile and his energy is just infectious.

The story basically takes place in the span of 24 hours. Aidan and Clare have their last date before ending things (like they planned in the beginning) and it’s going well until Aidan tries to convince Clare they should try it out and be together long distance. I loved all the scenes with Aidan and Clare on their dates – they really were the cutest couple. It was a good movie, short, sweet and a little problem that gets resolved in the end.

Have you read the book or watched the movie?

~ Yolanda

What I Watched: Our Chemical Hearts on Amazon Video

While I was making some metal hand-stamped keychains for my Etsy shop I looked for a movie to watch and ended up watching Our Chemical Hearts. I recognized the actor who plays Henry (Austin Abrams) as the guy who plays Dash in Dash & Lily on Netflix and of course he plays Ethan from Euphoria .

I didn’t read the book that is the basis for the movie but I remember seeing the title around years ago. Here is the synopsis from Goodreads:

Henry Page has never been in love. He fancies himself a hopeless romantic, but the slo-mo, heart palpitating, can’t-eat-can’t-sleep kind of love that he’s been hoping for just hasn’t been in the cards for him-at least not yet. Instead, he’s been happy to focus on his grades, on getting into a semi-decent college and finally becoming editor of his school newspaper. Then Grace Town walks into his first period class on the third Tuesday of senior year and he knows everything’s about to change.

Grace isn’t who Henry pictured as his dream girl-she walks with a cane, wears oversized boys’ clothes, and rarely seems to shower. But when Grace and Henry are both chosen to edit the school paper, he quickly finds himself falling for her. It’s obvious there’s something broken about Grace, but it seems to make her even more beautiful to Henry, and he wants nothing more than to help her put the pieces back together again. And yet, this isn’t your average story of boy meets girl. Krystal Sutherland’s brilliant debut is equal parts wit and heartbreak, a potent reminder of the bittersweet bliss that is first love.

Here’s the trailer for the movie which you can find on Amazon Prime Video

The movie is sad ☹️. Grace is going through some major stuff and Henry is falling in love with her. It was not going to be an easy happy ending for these two. But do they learn about themselves in the journey of their relationship? Definitely. I think it was a good movie, but like I said – it’s a sad one. I liked Henry’s friends though, they were a cute, and quirky bunch.

Have you read the book or watched the movie?

~ Yolanda

Love & Gelato on Netflix

Another book I read so long ago! But that’s okay if I hardly remember it, I am loving all these adaptations on all the streaming services I have.

I loved all the scenes in Italy – it made me reminisce about my honeymoon 11 years ago. I also love the food aspects of the movie. It made me crave pasta and gelato of course!

I thought it was a cute movie – my favorite parts were when Lina’s best-friend Addie was in the scenes, she made it fun. There is the love triangle between Lina trying to choose between Alessandro (hot, rich guy who’s going to Harvard) and Lorenzo who actually has a girlfriend but he’s the sweet, charming guy training to be a chef. There is some kissing, but all pretty innocent. I thought it’s a great summer movie option about traveling overseas instead of the typical beachy summer movie.

I haven’t read any of the other books in the series – should I? Let me know in the comments below if you read this series and if you will be watching this movie on Netflix!

Here’s the trailer:

The Summer I Turned Pretty on Amazon Prime Video

I read this series when it first published back in 2009 and I’m not surprised Amazon picked it up after the success of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before on Netflix. I love that the books I read years ago are now becoming tv shows!

I just binged this series on Monday and it was done so well. I love how they added all the diversity that was missing in the original books. Jeremiah is bi in this show, which is awesome and I think reflect the times perfectly and can we just admire his gorgeous eyes?! And then there is Conrad and honestly the actor who played him was perfect – he’s brooding, tortured and of course Belly’s first love/crush. Who can blame her? I was always team Conrad since I love the bad boys but I was never into Belly choosing between two brothers. I know it happens in real life but I always felt so awful about the drama between all of them. 🥺

I love Jeremiah’s energy in this series – he’s so carefree and fun. Conrad is the one in pain and ugh I just feel for him. The actor who plays him, Christopher Briney is so good! And the girl who plays Belly, Lola Tung was perfect, as the 15 year old turning 16 and crushing on Conrad and just trying to be more grown. I honestly forgot about their mom being sick, I only remember the boys going through some hard things and Belly being there in the middle of it all. I did read that the debutant ball was added in to the show and true…I was wondering if I just didn’t remember the books all that well. But yeah…maybe I should re-read the books? They are quick reads so I just might if I can get my hands on them. It doesn’t matter though since now days I try to separate books from shows/movies as much as I can because so much changes get made. I loved all the changes though!

The friendship between the moms remind me of the movie Beaches so I’m scared Season 2 will make me cry! 😢

And can I say that the soundtrack for this whole series is AMAZING. If you are a Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish fan, you will love this series. The music just fits so well! And of course I went crazy when I heard “Teenage Dirtbag” by Wheatus lol…talk about bringing back MEMORIES, ughhhh so good! That song came out in 2000, and I was 21 years old at the time – just good times! 🥰 I found the show’s playlist on apple music so you know what’s going to be on repeat for awhile,

Are you planning on watching The Summer I Turned Pretty? If anything, even if you never read the books, it’s such a summer type of show – it’s full on SUMMER vibes!! Beach, sand, fireworks, cute boys, pretty girls, crushes, broken hearts, love drama, love triangle, family drama, good music – it’s fun and yet emotional too. Check it out if you can!🌊❤️

Along for the Ride on Netflix | Books to Screen

I spent my late teens and early 20’s devouring Sarah Dessen books and loved them! And today Along for the Ride is on Netflix! So guess what I’m doing right now as I’m typing up this blog post? Yup, I’m watching it! ☺️

About the Book:

It’s been so long since Auden slept at night. Ever since her parents’ divorce—or since the fighting started. Now she has the chance to spend a carefree summer with her dad and his new family in the charming beach town where they live.

A job in a clothes boutique introduces Auden to the world of girls: their talk, their friendship, their crushes. She missed out on all that, too busy being the perfect daughter to her demanding mother. Then she meets Eli, an intriguing loner and a fellow insomniac who becomes her guide to the nocturnal world of the town. Together they embark on parallel quests: for Auden, to experience the carefree teenage life she’s been denied; for Eli, to come to terms with the guilt he feels for the death of a friend.

In her signature pitch-perfect style, Sarah Dessen explores the hearts of two lonely people learning to connect.

And here’s the trailer:

What are you watching this weekend?

~ Yolanda

Heartstopper on Netflix

I just finished watching Heartstopper on Netflix and it was so sweet and sensitive and it made me tear up in so many parts.

I never read the books, so I can’t say how they compare at all but the whole cast of Heartstopper did such a good job in their roles. The music is great and the aesthetic seems to fit what I’ve seen of the book covers of the Heartstopper series – the colors and such. Even the characters look like the ones from the book which is amazing, at least Charlie and Nick does since the cover is all I’ve seen. It’s a series you easily binge quickly since each episode is about 30 minutes long.

Charlie is so earnest and hopeful even when he gets hurt constantly by boys he likes and just the kids at school. He is so brave being out. I love his tenacity to keep being himself, no matter what awkward and hard situations he is put into. Nick on the other hand is trying to figure out how he feels and I love watching his journey and his struggle. He’s a new kid, but a popular one right away because he’s a star on the rugby team but seeing him fall for Charlie and want to care and protect him was just the sweetest thing ever.

I love the friendships and all the diversity we get in the cast and characters. Tao is fantastic! Elle and Tao are the cutest best friends – love them. This is really one you shouldn’t miss. It gave me all the squishy, giggly, lovey-dovey, squealing feels when I was watching this. It is so wholesome. ❤️ I kept saying aloud, “Why are they so cute?!!!!!!” 😅 I wanted to squish them all into a big bear hug. I was feeling like a protective mom over all of them (except the bully).

Here is the trailer if you haven’t seen it yet: